Tech South West and Microsoft – One Year of Impact Together

By Jess Coomer, Social Value Lead at Microsoft

Over the past year, Microsoft has worked alongside Tech South West to support the South West’s startup ecosystem – bringing founders, educators, employers, and communities together around a shared ambition: to unlock opportunity across the region.

Tech South West plays a vital role connecting the tech community, championing innovation, and helping startups start, grow, and scale locally. As part of Microsoft’s work with the Met Office and our commitment to supporting communities in the South West, we’ve worked closely with Tech South West to turn that ambition into practical, accessible support for founders and emerging talent.

Supporting founders to move from idea to growth

Together, we’ve supported startups at every stage of their journey through real, hands-on engagement.

Through Growth Forge – Tech South West’s flagship accelerator – we’ve supported more than 100 companies on their growth journeys, working directly with founders to help them navigate challenges, refine their propositions, and build momentum. Many of these businesses are shaping the future of the region, with 35% operating in areas like green technology and marine innovation. 

Across the past year, we’ve also supported platforms for founders to showcase their ideas such as the Tech South West London Showcase – where startups pitched innovative products and services to investors. This momentum is translating into tangible outcomes, with several startups securing significant funding and progressing their growth ambitions.

Making AI real and relevant for small businesses

A consistent theme across everything we’ve delivered is helping startups make sense of AI – not as a future concept, but as a practical tool they can use today.

Across events, workshops, and resources, we’ve focused on demystifying AI and showing founders how it can:

• Support communications and decision-making
• Streamline internal workflows
• Improve financial tracking and operational efficiency

We’ve explored how AI-powered agents can help small businesses turn everyday enquiries into opportunities – automating routine tasks while freeing up time for higher-value work. Alongside this, we’ve covered the concept of the “Frontier Firm” (a model where AI is embedded into day-to-day operations rather than used occasionally).

For many startups, this journey is already underway. Tools like Copilot Coach are resonating – they’re designed to help small businesses move from curiosity to action through a short, structured coaching conversation about goals, pain points, and current ways of working – ending with a personalised AI adoption plan and ready-to-use.

Connecting people, skills and opportunity across the region

Our impact has extended beyond startups to the wider ecosystem – helping to build stronger connections between talent and opportunity.

Over the past year, we’ve delivered events bringing together more than 150 students, educators, and local employers – creating spaces to explore the region’s digital future and the skills needed to support it.

This has been complemented by the launch of the South West Connector platform, designed to bring together internships, apprenticeships, work experience, and full-time roles from across the region. Alongside this, the platform highlights AI skilling pathways, digital learning opportunities, and AI-enabled navigation to help individuals navigate their next steps.

Through regional skills events, we’ve also brought together employers, educators, and stakeholders to identify key challenges and co-create solutions. These conversations are already translating into tangible outcomes – from new opportunities for young people to stronger collaboration between education and industry.

One team, driving regional impact

This partnership brings together global expertise, platforms, and innovation, with a shared commitment to focus that capability where it matters most – supporting the South West in a way that is relevant, inclusive and sustainable. Together, this is what enables impact at scale.